Decatur, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Decatur, Texas
City
Downtown Decatur
Nickname(s):  Little D
Location of Decatur, Texas
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Wise
Area
• Total	8.78 sq mi (22.75 km2)
• Land	8.78 sq mi (22.75 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,004 ft (306 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,538
• Density	744.6/sq mi (287.38/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	76234
Area code(s)	940
FIPS code	48-19528
GNIS feature ID	2410307
Website	http://www.decaturtx.org/

Decatur is a city in Texas, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Wise County, Texas. In 2020, about 6,538 people lived there.

Decatur City Hall

History of Decatur

Wise County was created in 1856. The first county seat was named Taylorsville. This name honored Zachary Taylor, a former U.S. President.

A local leader, Absalom Bishop, did not like the name. In 1858, he helped change the name to Decatur. This new name honored Stephen Decatur, a famous naval hero.

In 1857, Decatur got its first post office. The first school also opened that year. A courthouse was built in the early 1860s.

Decatur During the Civil War

Many early settlers in northern Texas came from other states. Some supported the Union during the American Civil War. There were some conflicts in this part of Texas during the war.

Decatur After the Civil War

By the late 1860s, Decatur had several shops and a hotel. In 1882, the Fort Worth and Denver Railway came to town. Decatur also became a stop on the Butterfield Overland mail route.

Since 1881, Decatur has hosted the Wise County Old Settlers Reunion. This yearly event takes place in the last full week of July.

Decatur Baptist College opened in 1898. It was the first two-year college in Texas. In 1965, the college moved to Dallas. The old college building later became the Wise County Heritage Museum. Sadly, this building was destroyed in a fire in 2023. It was a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wise County Courthouse was finished in 1896. It was designed by James Riely Gordon, a famous architect. The building is made of Texas red granite. It has special decorations made of terra cotta. This courthouse is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1980, country singer Charley Pride survived a plane crash over Decatur. Two other people died in that accident.

Geography and Climate

Decatur covers about 8.5 square miles (22 square kilometers) of land. The highest point in the county is where the courthouse stands. Early settlers built the town on high ground. This helped them see and protect against attacks.

Decatur's Climate

Decatur has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Population Information

In 2020, there were 6,538 people living in Decatur. There were 2,507 households and 1,753 families.

Economy and Jobs

In 2008, a company called Entegris bought Poco Graphite, Inc. in Decatur. This company makes special graphite and silicon carbide products. These products are used in many things, like computers, glass bottles, and airplanes.

Arts and Culture

Decatur has a public library for its residents.

The Service Broadcasting Tower Decatur is a very tall TV tower. It is one of the tallest structures in the world.

The Wise County Messenger is a local newspaper. It has been printed in Decatur since 1880.

Parks and Recreation

• Kenny Renshaw Park has soccer fields, softball fields, a playground, and a walking trail.
• Several natural creeks flow through Decatur. These include Wagoner Branch, Sweetwater Creek, Walnut Creek, Deep Creek, and Center Creek.

Education in Decatur

The Decatur Independent School District (DISD) serves the city. It is the largest school district in Wise County. Decatur ISD has six schools:

• Decatur High School
• McCarroll Middle School
• Carson Elementary School
• Rann Elementary School
• Young Elementary

In the 2010–2011 school year, over 3,000 students attended Decatur ISD schools.

Weatherford College also has a campus in Decatur.

Transportation and Services

Highways and Roads

Major highways that pass through Decatur include:

• US 380
• US 287
• FM 51
• FM 730

Airports

• Decatur Municipal Airport is a public airport owned by the city. It is located 2 miles north of downtown.
• Bishop Airport is a privately owned public airport. It is located 6 miles east of downtown Decatur.

Emergency Services

Lifeteam 68 is an air ambulance service. It is based at Wise Regional Hospital in Decatur.

Notable People from Decatur

Many interesting people have connections to Decatur:

• Trevor Brazile – a world-champion rodeo cowboy
• Roy Cooper and Tuf Cooper – father and son world-champion rodeo cowboys
• Bryce Elder – a starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves baseball team
• Mike Lee – a professional bull rider
• James Maness – a professional football player
• Joseph Fort Newton – a minister and author
• Tom Pickett – a 19th-century cowboy, lawman, and outlaw
• William Raborn – a former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
• Texas Ruby – a country music singer
• Phil Ryan – a Texas Ranger and Wise County sheriff
• Samuel M. Sampler – received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War I
• Belle Hunt Shortridge – an author
• Tommy Tatum – a professional baseball player
• Guinn Williams – a U.S. Representative from Texas
• Guinn "Big Boy" Williams – a Western movie star

See also

In Spanish: Decatur (Texas) para niños